Should Alexa Diagnose Alzheimer’s?: A Health Policy and Bioethics Consortium

Date: 

Friday, February 11, 2022, 12:30pm to 2:00pm

Location: 

Harvard Graduate School of Education—Online

Technology is now part of our lives in ways that were not possible only 10-20 years ago. Smart devices, like watches, phones, and speakers, can gather vast amounts of information about their users, often without the user’s knowledge or consent. As technology continues to improve, many of these devices may also be leveraged to serve diagnostic functions. Technologies such as Amazon's Alexa and Google's Assistant can ambiently and continually monitor a variety of information about an individual’s location, voice, and movement. As this technology merges with wearables, such as the Apple Watch or FitBit, it may become possible to diagnose a wide range of diseases, including Alzhiemer's. But should it?

To help answer that question, Dr. Barbara Evans and Dr. Jason Karlawish will discuss the medical, legal, and ethical implications of using such technology to diagnose diseases, such as Alzhiemer's.

Learn more about and register for this virtual event.